After working in-house at Intelligentsia Coffee for the past 4 years, I’ve recently struck out on my own again to pursue a freelance career. With extra bonus time saved from commuting, I’m now afforded the sweet luxuries of things like finding new inspiration and updating this long-neglected blog.
In June, I was invited to speak to the Minnesota chapter of AIGA, via the fantastic folks at Smartpress and WeWork, for their collaborative Behind the Print series. We discussed my personal path to becoming a designer and the confluence of graphic design and fine art. I met a lot of great people there who share my profession, some of whom wrote to me afterwards. One thing that excited me was a recurring piece of feedback on my website: appreciation for discussing new musical finds and interests. So, with my new-found freedom, I’m going to do my best to get back into that. And I’ll begin here with my favorite releases, starting in late 2017.
In the past year, nearly all of my go-to bands have released incredible records. I’ll just go chronologically since last fall and start with:
The Clientele - Music For the Age of Miracles
The music of The Clientele, if you are not familiar, speaks in autumnal tones. There is always, even when uplifting, a sense of fading nostalgia, but also one of arcane wonder. It’s as if they stand, beckoning, at the shimmering threshold of some mystical realm that you must leave behind your most precious possessions in order to enter. Miracles was released at a time of existential upheaval in my life and I can’t listen to it without having those days come to mind. And I love it. I love that feeling, even though it’s sad. The music helps me appreciate that sadness, makes it something tangible and understandable, which in turn makes me happy. It’s pastoral psychedelia for long walks in the woods, early morning autumn sunlit coffee, and general reflection. And it’s definitely the band’s best record. Stand out tracks are “Falling Asleep” and “The Age of Miracles”, but, honestly, they’re all amazing.
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - On the Echoing Green JC-L’s most recent (2017) offering presents a sumptuous melding of styles he’s worked in throughout his career. Here, layers of white noise over sweet, summer harmonies evoke hazy sun-dappled park outings and blissful beach excursions. Influences that come to mind are William Basinsky, Fennez, and My Bloody Valentine. Definitely more enjoyable on vinyl, with the digital download you get an epic collection of extras, titled Hermanutics, whose quality certainly warrant a full release on their own.
Disasterpeace - Hyperlight Drifter OST Admittedly, I came to this a bit late, as it was initially released in 2016. You may know Disasterpeace’s work from his score to the popular horror/suspense film It Follows. This is another excellent soundtrack, not the first of which he has written for a video game. As a video game score, it works perfectly, adding a compelling and unique layer of atmosphere to the game’s mysterious, post-apocalyptic landscape that somehow manages to conjure the worlds of The Legend of Zelda and Bladerunner simultaneously. It’s a fantastic game, but the this score stands perfectly on its own. It’s an excellent blend of of Koji Kondo’s groundbreaking work for the original Zelda and Vangelis’ dense Bladerunner score (specifically the Esper Edition). Personal favorite tracks are “The Midnight Wood” and the full version of “Panacea”, which heavily references Vangelis’ “Memories of Green” from Bladerunner.
